Eau Claire business owner eyes vacant downtown building to start up new grocery store

Eau Claire (WQOW) - The revitalization of downtown Eau Claire includes new restaurants and hotels, but one thing still missing in downtown is a grocery store. One Eau Claire business owner is hoping to change that.

Benny Haas, the owner of The Plus, will finalize the purchase of the former Eau Claire Boys and Girls Club by the end of November.

Haas tells News 18 he has a two-phase plan for the building. He first will launch a cafe and music hall with breakfast and other fresh food. He hopes it will be open for business in three to six months.

After that, he plans to expand the business into a grocery store, which he said is badly needed in downtown.

“Being a business owner and somebody who lives downtown, I have been experiencing the need for this for more than 10 years. It is one of those things where people who live downtown are blessed that we never really have to get into our cars unless we have to go to work,” Haas said. “There is entertainment, food, restaurants nearby, except for grocery."

Haas said he also purchased a building just to the south of the Boys and Girls Club, which he will tear down and to pave a 28 car parking lot next to the new business.